Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zaprimu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Zaprimu’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; numerous purple and red purple-colored flowers; and excellent container and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Alstroemeria hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘ZAPRIMU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofAlstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida,commercially used as a potted and garden-type Alstroemeria, andhereinafter referred to by the name ‘Zaprimu’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new potted Alstroemeria plants withuniform plant habit, freely flowering habit, attractive leaf and flowercoloration and good garden performance.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in May, 2013 of aproprietary Alstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number11996-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryAlstroemeria hybrida selection identified as code number 12609-1, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant wasdiscovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in June, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by rhizome divisionsin a controlled greenhouse environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlandssince September, 2014 has shown that the unique features of this newAlstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and aredetermined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Zaprimu’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Zaprimu’ as a new anddistinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and uniformly mounded        plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Numerous purple and red purple-colored flowers.    -   4. Excellent container and garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe female parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of thenew Alstroemeria have purple and red purple-colored flowers whereasplants of the female parent selection have dark purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the maleparent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ from plants ofthe male parent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the newAlstroemeria have purple and red purple-colored flowers whereas plantsof the male parent selection have red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of Alstroemeriahybrida ‘Zaprilian’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,042. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Alstroemeria differprimarily from plants of ‘Zaprilian’ in flower color as plants of thenew Alstroemeria have purple and red purple-colored flowers whereasplants of ‘Zaprilian’ have light purple-colored flowers. In addition,plants of the new Alstroemeria are broader than plants of ‘Zaprilian’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Alstroemeria plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a top perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Zaprimu’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical leavesand flowers of ‘Zaprimu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during thespring in 14-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rijsenhout,The Netherlands. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesranged from 15° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to15° C., soil temperatures averaged 14° C. and light levels averaged5,000 lux. Plants were three months old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Zaprimu’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida            selection identified as code number 11996-1, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary Alstroemeria hybrida            selection identified as code number 12609-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro rhizogenesis.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 40 days            at temperatures of 16° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 60 days            at temperatures of 16° C. to 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous, fleshy, thick; color, close to            155D.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density.        -   Rhizomes.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About 10 cm to            30 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm to 10 mm. Texture: Smooth.            Color: Close to 155D.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly            spreading and uniformly mounding plant habit; freely            branching habit with about five to six primary lateral            branches each with about three secondary lateral branches,            dense and bushy appearance; moderately vigorous growth            habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant diameter (spread).—About 45 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 21 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 1 cm.        -   Strength.—Moderately strong.        -   Aspect.—About 45° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy.        -   Color, developing and fully developed.—Close to 138C.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 8 cm to 11 cm.        -   Width.—About 3 cm to 4 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Ribbed; matte.        -   Aspect.—Upright to somewhat horizontal, twisting.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            137A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A;            venation, close to N138B. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 145A; venation, close to 145B.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Strength: Low,            flexible. Color, upper surface: Close to 137A. Color, lower            surface: Close to N138B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in            compound umbels; flowers face upright to outwardly; perianth            segments separate; freely flowering habit with about 30            flower buds and flowers per plant at one time.        -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from the            spring until the autumn in The Netherlands; early flowering            habit, plants begin flowering about 70 to 80 days after            planting.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About ten days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.            Shape: Roughly ovoid. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous;            semi-glossy. Color: Close to 186C and 155A.        -   Umbel height.—About 10 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 cm by 7 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 6 cm.        -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each            whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Inner            perianth, lateral segments: Length: About 6 cm. Width: About            2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Wishbone-shaped and            acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Proximally, entire and            distally, dentate; somewhat undulate. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Ribbed; matte. Color, when opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Proximally, close to 76C;            mid-section, close to 155A; distally, close to N75B and 70A;            apex, close to 140A; stripes, close to 187A; with            development, distal color becoming closer to N77B. Color,            when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Proximally,            close to 76D; mid-section, close to 70B; distally, close to            N75D; color does not change with development. Inner            perianth, median segment: Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About            2 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate. Apex: Wishbone-shaped and            acuminate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Proximally, entire and            distally, dentate; somewhat undulate. Texture and luster,            upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Ribbed; matte. Color, when opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Proximally, close to 76C;            mid-section, close to 155A; distally, close to N75B and 70A;            apex, close to 140A; stripes, close to 187A; with            development, distal color becoming closer to 76A and N77B.            Color, when opening and fully opened, lower surface:            Proximally, close to 76D; mid-section, close to 70B;            distally, close to N75D; color does not change with            development. Outer perianth, lateral segments: Length: About            6 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Embedded            point. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; somewhat undulate.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Ribbed; semi-glossy.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Ribbed; matte. Color,            when opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to N75B;            center, close to 70A; apex, close to 141C; with development,            color becoming closer to 70A and center, closer to N77B.            Color, when opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close            to N75D and 70B; apex and venation, close to 141C; color            does not change with development. Outer perianth, median            segment: Length: About 6 cm. Width: About 3.2 cm. Shape:            Obovate. Apex: Embedded point. Base: Attenuate. Margin:            Entire; somewhat undulate. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Ribbed; semi-glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Ribbed; matte. Color, when opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to N75B; center, close to 70A;            apex, close to 141C; with development, color becoming closer            to 70A and center, closer to N77B. Color, when opening and            fully opened, lower surface: Close to N75D and 70B; apex and            venation, close to 141C; color does not change with            development.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Angle: About 25° from vertical. Texture            and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to            138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            six. Filament length: About 3.5 cm to 4 cm. Filament color:            Close to N75A. Anther size: About 0.8 mm by 2 mm. Anther            shape: Elliptical. Anther color: Close to 187A. Pollen            amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close to 187B. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Style length: About 3 cm. Style            color: Close to N75A. Stigma diameter: About 0.7 mm. Stigma            shape: Three-parted. Stigma color: Close to N75A. Ovary            color: Close to 138A.        -   Fruits and seeds.—To date, fruit and seed development have            not been observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Alstroemeria    have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common    to Alstroemeria plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been    observed to have excellent garden performance and to tolerate wind,    rain, temperatures from about −5° C. to about 40° C. and to be    suitable for USDA Hardiness Zone 9.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Zaprimu’as illustrated and described.